Daggers

The dagger was a medieval weapon that was usually reserved as a last resort weapon in very close combat situations. The medieval dagger was used as a stabbing weapon and usually had sharp edges and a sharp point at the end, however the medieval dagger could also be a single edged weapon.

Medieval daggers were useful for piercing gaps in Medieval armour and also in grappling situations where the fight had gone to the ground. A common term used for the medieval dagger in medieval times was “misercorde" this term probably came from the fact that the dagger was used on people that were commonly begging for mercy.

“The Latin name for the dagger was cultellum qui dicitur – dagger”

Early medieval daggers

The early Medieval daggers were much longer than the ones used in later medieval times, sometimes they were described as long knives and they descended from the daggers that we used by the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Vikings and Visigoths.

The Rondel Dagger was a late medieval Dagger

Later medieval dagger types

There were many different designs of Medieval daggers and from around the 14th century the kidney dagger which was also known as the ballock dagger was introduced.

The basilard dagger also appeared on the scene around this time, this medieval dagger had a broad blade at the hilt and was commonly used by medieval military in Italy.

The ox-tongue dagger or cinquedea was a much thicker dagger than earlier medieval daggers and was broader at the hilt around 4 to 5 fingers wide.

The rondel dagger was another dagger that was introduced towards the end of the medieval period in around the 15th century, this was a much thinner dagger with a needle like blade and discs at either side of the hilt that was fashionable at the time.

Medieval dagger facts:

Medieval daggers were usually a backup weapon in close combat situations

Medieval daggers are often carried inside the belt area

Most Medieval daggers had two sharp edges but some had only one sharp edge

Medieval daggers were more popular towards the later medieval periods

Medieval daggers descended from the earlier seax weapon

Medieval daggers were used by the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings

Medieval daggers were used by the Franks Visigoths

The Byzantines used medieval daggers for assassinations

The Latin term for the dagger was cultellus

Daggers were much longer in earlier medieval times

Early Medieval daggers were also known as Long knives

Medieval daggers were useful for piercing gaps in Medieval armour

A Medieval term for the dagger was misericorde

In the 14th century the kidney dagger was introduced

The basilard dagger had a broad blade at the hilt

The ox tongue dagger was even wider than the basilard dagger around five fingers wide

A popular 15th century dagger was the rondel

The rondel dagger was a very thin dagger with a disc at the hilt

Medieval daggers were used in very close combat fighting

In the later renaissance period it was quite common to a fight with a sword and dagger together